Family and Consumer Sciences
Housing and Interiors Design Foundations
CURRICULUM
Course Description
Housing and Interior Design Foundations addresses selecting and planning living environments
to meet the needs and wants of individuals and families through out the family life cycle.
Economic, social, cultural, technological, environmental, maintenance, and aesthetic factors are
considered. The project-based approach in this course utilizes higher order thinking,
communication, leadership, and management processes to integrate housing and interior design
content. Topics to be studied will include: housing styles, locations, zones, restrictions, and
ownership options, managing resources, to provide shelter, contemporary housing issues,
impacts of technology, housing to meet special needs, elements and principles of design to
interiors , housing and architecture; creating functional, safe, and aesthetic spaces; historical and
contemporary trends in housing, interiors, furniture, and appliances. Students will explore
housing related careers.
Course Objectives
Students will…
 Identify historical features of different styles of architecture interiors, and furniture as
they relate to current trends.
 Analyze construction specifications, geographic location, safety and security, energy
efficiency, aesthetic preferences and choices that meet the needs of individuals and
families.
 Apply color theory and principles in the selection and use of design elements while
constructing a project utilizing standard scale and symbols creating floor/space plans that
meet the needs of individuals and families.
 Examine career paths in housing, interiors, and furnishings industry to determine
educational preparation, and employment opportunities associated with each.
 Describe criteria for housing and interior products. (building materials, floor coverings,
lighting fixtures, accessories and kitchen/bath fixtures and equipment)
Essential Questions

What influences did housing styles and architecture of the 1700’s, 1800’s and 1900’s
have on housing today.

What current, emerging trends and housing issues affect the needs of individuals and
families in today’s society?

How are geographical location, safety, security, and energy efficiency, and aesthetic
preferences meeting the needs of individuals, families, and communities today?
Family and Consumer Sciences

Why is it important to know and understand the universal guidelines and regulations
when creating house plans/designs and construction?

What are the regulations, constructions specifications, and quality individuals and
families must be aware of when selecting residential housing or business location?

What career paths are available to individuals in housing, interiors, and furnishing
industries and what education requirements must be met to obtain positions in these areas
of the workforce?

Why is it important to understand design principles and elements when selecting
furnishings and accessories to meet housing needs?
Indiana State Standards
Standard 1: Students will integrate processes of thinking, communication, leadership, and
management in knowledge and skills.
Standard 2: Students will assess factors that influence design and development in housing
and interiors.
Standard 3: Students will evaluate housing decisions in relation to available resources and
options.
Standard 4: Students will evaluate the use of furnishing and products in meeting specific
housing and interior.
Standard 5: Students will analyze design and space planning skills used in housing,
interiors, and furnishings.
Units of Instruction
Unit 1:
Unit 2:
Unit 3:
Unit 4:
The Universal Need for Housing
Making Housing Decisions – Buying a Home
Understanding Construction – Construction Basics and Interior Construction
Architectural Design – Early Home Styles, Home Style since 1700, and
Designing Homes for Today’s Needs
Unit 5: Using Design – The Elements of Design, The Role of Color in Design, The
Principles of Design, Developing a Design Plan and Completing and Presenting a
Design
Unit 6: Designing Interior Environments – Kitchens, Laundry Areas and Baths, Home
Office and Storage Spaces, Choosing Background, Recognizing Furniture Styles,
Selecting Furniture, Choosing Lighting and Accessories, and Home and Safety
Family and Consumer Sciences
Course Assessments
Projects, Tests, Daily Preparedness for class discussions and class activities, Essays, Final Exams
Time Line
Week 1– Chapter 4: Careers in Housing and Interiors 1.1-1.5, 5.1
Chapter 14: Early Home Styles 1.1- 1.5, 2.1, 2.3
Week 2- Chapter 15: Home Styles since 1700 1.1- 1.5, 2.1, 2.3
Chapter 3: Housing and Technology 1.1-1.5, 2.2
Week 3- Chapter 8: Buying a Home 1.1, 1.4, 3.1- 3.4
Chapter 16: Designing Homes for Today’s Needs 1.1, 1.4, 2.4, 3.3, 3.5, 3.6, 4.2,
4.3,5.2
Week 4- Chapter 10: Construction Basics 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.4, 3.5, 4.1, 4.2, 5.2
Chapter 11: Interior Construction 1.1-1.4, 2.4, 3.1, 3.5, 4.1, 4.2, 5.2, 5.6
Week 5- Chapter 17: Elements of Design 1.1-1.5, 2.1, 2.4, 3.1, 4.2
Chapter 18: Role of Color in Design 1.1-1.5, 4.1-4.3
Week 6- Chapter 19: Principles of Design 1.1-1.5, 4.1-4.3, 5.3-5.5
Week 7- Chapter 24: Choosing Backgrounds 1.1-1.4, 4.1, 4.2, 5.3-5.5, 5.7
Chapter 20: Developing a Design Plan 1.1-1.5, 3.1-3.5, 4.1-4.3, 5.2-5.4
Begin work on Final Project
Week 8- Chapter 21: Completing and Presenting a Design 1.1-1.5, 3.1-3.5, 4.1-4.3, 5.2-5.4
Work on Final Project
Week 9- Chapter 22: Kitchens, Laundry Areas, and Baths 1.1-1.5, 2.4, 3.5, 4.1-4.3, 5.2-5.6
Work on Final Project
Week 10- Chapter 25: Recognizing Furniture Styles
1.1-1.5, 4.1-4.3, 5.7
Chapter 26: Selecting Furniture 1.1-1.5, 4.1-4.3, 5.3, 5.5-5.7
Work on Final Project
Week 11- Chapter 27: Choosing Lighting and Accessories
1.1-1.5, 3.1, 4.1, 4.3, 5.3, 5.5-5.7
Chapter 28: Home Safety and Security
1.1, 1.5, 3.2, 5.2, 5.7
Work on Final Project
Week 12- Review and final exam
Course Materials: Major Text, Principal Materials, and Films
Text: Homes and Interiors by Ruth F. Sherwood published by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Student Workbook and Teacher Resource Material – Homes and Interiors, Teacher made
materials and materials from the Internet.
Possible Videos: “Design the Elements of Color, Line, Shape, Form, Pattern, and Texture”,
“Design the Principles of Balance, Proportion, Harmony, Rhythm, and Emphasis”, “Housing
Styles-A Tour Through Time”.